Chinese and Japanese Freshwater Photos

[kojimapearl]

Hello fellow pearls,
As per many requests I have attached here some photos of our fresh water pearls, the first two are from the latest harvest from Lake Kasumi-Ga-Ura, JAPAN.(Kasumi-Ga-Ura roughly translates to "the body of water beyond the mist"). These pearls have only been out of the water for just over two months. Unfortunately this year was not the highest yield, and these are two of the top strands that we made. As we buy all of the baroque pearls from the three remaining farmers Lake Kasumi (I will shorten the name here for the sake of market memory), we can be sure of their origin. And I will mention that these are not the trade-marked "kasumi-ga" pearls, they were bought by Fuji Voll (my pearling Sensei), and for the last many years I have done all of the drilling, sorting and stringing. These two strands of Japan Kasumi range in size from 9-13mm. The nuclei used by the farmers (who do their own grafting) is mostly 8.1mm or "2.7 bu"
The next three photos are of our strand of Chinese Fresh Water pearls, or "Chinese Kasumi" as they have been dubbed.(the last photo is of the strand in a Chinese fresh water pearl shell). When I bought these pearls, it was explained to me that they had been in the water for more than 6 years! And we can only assume that these pearls were made using the "in-body" nucleation method. These pearls (25 pieces on the strand) range in size from 14.5-16.4mm!!! They have tremendously thick nacre. Currently there is a gem profile about this strand in the works for the April issue of Modern Jeweler.
I hope you all enjoy these two examples! If you have any questions, please feel free.
Pearly Blessings,
Sarah Canizzaro
Pacific Pearls and Kojima Co.

[pattye]

Such a feast for the eyes! Even Sarah's fabulous photos don't catch all the rainbow irridesence on these magnificent pearls.

Thanks again, Sarah.

Pattye

p.s. I will add them to my wish list!

[Caitlin]

What a great treat to see such fantastic pearls posted here. Thanks ever so much!

[boo]

Thank you so much for the photos! They are just lovely.

[silverseajewelry]

Wow. Remarkable coloration. Thanks for posting!

[Pearl Dreams]

Fantastic colors!

[jshepherd]

In the body method...! Do you know where in China they are experimenting with Kasumi-style implantation? I saw that strand of pearls in Tucson and would not have believed it was a Chinese strand produced in that method until I saw the pearls. They are clearly out-of-mantle production. They have the Kasumi-like texture which I assume comes from a pearl sac not encased within a muscle. I had not previously heard of any Chinese operations experimenting with that style of grafting since Akamatsu G&G article six years ago.

Have they been put through an x-ray yet to see if the nuclei are pierced? Do you have any idea if they are from a similar Hyriosis cumingii/Hyriopsis schlegelii hybrid?

[Cathybear]

Those are absolutely breathtakingly LOVELY!
Thank you for posting photos!
Cathy

[kojimapearl]

Thank you kindly ladies!

Jeremy,
Actually we have very little technical information about the animals or methods being for pearls like the ones in this strand.
For more than ten years now we have sought out all manner of Chinese "bead-nuc", especially those that appeared to be "in-body" pearls. For many years we have been aware that they were being produced in China, however we were not able to obtain anything of quality. So it came as a blessing and as well a surprise to find them in such quality and size.
We have not had these pearls x-rayed. I wish we had that much time, but you are welcome to do so after April.
As for the shells, we have seen no evidence that any other shell than the Hyriosis cumingii, or the Hyriosis cumingii/Hyriopsis schlegelii hybrid are being used in fresh water cultivation. It is probable that these pearls come from such a hybrid.
Some people selling similar pearls have taken to calling them "Ikecho", (which is the name for Hyriopsis schlegelii in Japanese). However only hybrids have been used in Japan since about 1990.

It was a pleasure meeting you in Tucson.
Sincerely, SARAH

[pernula]

Gorgeous pearls! Thank you for posting.

I am lost, what is "in-body" nucleation method?

Thanks,
Pernula

[GemGeek]

Hi Sarah,

Unfortunately, I couldn't get back to your booth before I left Tucson. Thanks for another look at those fabulous pearls. I could have dove into the vat of keshi you bought from Josh!

Will you be in the Las Vegas shows?

Cheers,
Blaire

[kojimapearl]

Pernula,
"in-body" nucleation requires much more surgical skill than does "in-mantle" nucleation. The recent wave of Chinese bead nucleus pearls,
i.e. "flame balls" (for lack of a better term) are grown in the mantle. Their typical shape is the result of growing in an ill-fitting pearl sac. With "in-body nucleation" the pearl sac grows around the bead, just as in ocean pearl cultivation. I hope that clears it up for you.
Cheers, Sarah

[kojimapearl]

Blaire,
I loved your travel photos!
Thank you. We are still waiting to get a booth at the AGTA show in Las Vegas (June 2008). If we do not get a booth, we will be seeing customers privately in our room at either the Venetian or the Mirage. Eeeks, I have yet to make those arrangements. I will certainly let you know!
Sincerely, Sarah Canizzaro

[GemGeek]

Thanks Sarah, that will be great!

[john675]

These are absolutely stunning pearls, Sarah. I wish I had been in Tuscon just so I could have seen such marvels in person. Thank you so much for sharing them on the forum!
John